Compare towns
Reading vs Ripton vs Putnam vs Cavendish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($266k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Reading | Ripton | Putnam | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
508Lowest |
540 |
1,242Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
— | — | $1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,948 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.